Easy opening container



vM13-FZ5, t955 I F. c. NUNN 3,185,382

EASY OPENING' CONTAINER Filed Aug. 29. 196s INVENTOR FRANK C. Nunn,

United States Patent() 3,185,382 EASY OPENING CONTAINER `Frank C. Nunn, Gincinnati,;ho, assignor to The Procter & .Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug..29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,332 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) 'This invention relates to an .easy opening container Vand more particularly to an easy opening container adapted to `facilitate Aprice marking A of the packages contained therein and to :permit `the formation .of a tray structure from the container without danger .of package damage. VAs vused herein, the word container denotes the receptacle within which a multiplicity of individually packaged units of product may be contained. `The -individual packages will be referred to as carton, package or the like.

One of the current trends in modern retail outlets for consumer goods is the application lof a price on each 4of the packages displayed `for sale `in the store. The

reason for this trend .is that the size of ,such outlets has Aor more expedient `to Vcut a portion of the container around its periphery so as to remove the closure intact, possibly along with a continuous attached strip of the lside and end panels contiguous thereto. This is lcon- 'venient and relatively `safe when .thecontents of the conlitainer `are packaged in metal cans, etc., but presents a serious problem of product damage when the packages .are constructed of materials Asuch as cardboard, etc.

Another of the `modern trends of retail outlets for consumer goods has been to attempt to open the containers of the lproduct which is intended to, be placed on the store shelves in such a manner as to result in the formation `of one or `more display trays. In this Way one or more layers ofthe packaged product may be handled as a unit, thereby reducingthe time necessary Vfor stocking the shelves and facilitating the 'taking of `periodic inventories of the goods maintained on display in the outlet, as `frequent-ly required by accounting systems.

Many devices have been `addressed to the satisfaction of either or `-boyth of the ,above trends, but to date none has been reasonably successful in solving the problems Yin an economical and facile manner. `For example, the use of a tear string -or tape `provides a means by which an easily opened tray-forming container may be manufactured, but such involves .additional material costs and requires manufacturing `operations :usually not associated `withl the production of containers from materials such as 4 corrugated board. Moreover, many of such devices are designed in such a manner that a stock clerk is not able to readily understand the procedure to be followed in their utilization and sometimes is not even aware of their V.incorporation in the container.

`It is an object of the present invention to obviate the above difficulties.

Another object of the present invention is ,to provide an economical, easily opened, tray-forming container constructed entirely from materials normally used in manufacturing containers, involving no new manufacturing operations and possessing a simplicity of design such 3,185,382 Patented May 25, 196,5

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that its function will be readily understood by persons in the retail consumer industry.

Brieiiy stated, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, a container is provided which `has in combinationtwo `pairs of marginally connected and alternating end Iwalls and `side walls, and a bottom and top closure. Each of the closures comprises end iiaps hingedto V and extending from the end walls and inwardly vfolded toward each other along with equally `sized -side flaps extend-ing from the side walls and inwardly folded toward one another in overlapping relationship with the end iiaps and adhesively united thereto. The ends of the container -blank lie within the confines of one of the end Walls thereby dividing the end wall Iand each of-the end iiaps connected therewith linto two parts. The end Wall portion of one end of the blank has a full width tab extending .therefrom adapted to be removably secured to the :other end of the blank. In its erected condition `the balance of the end edgesof the blank are butted one against the other. The line of the abutting edges of the ends ,of the blank `is othcenter with respect to the `center line Vof the end wall so that one end Wall portion is wider than the other. The end flaps extending from the other of the end Walls are slotted along lines perpendicular to the tiap hinge lines, the slots extending from the outer flap edge -to a point short of the respective flap hinge line and lying in substantially lthe same plane as the abutting edges of the blank located in the oppositelydisposed end flaps.

Although the specification concludes with claims particularly point-ing out and distinctly .claiming the subject matter which Ais regarded as the present invention, it is .believed the invention will vbe better yunderstood from the following description taken in connection with lthe accompanying drawing which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of ythe outer surface of .t te container blank, as cut, scored, printed and provided with glue .for the formation of the flat container tube;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View ,of the fiat container tube pri-or to squaring-upof the container;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the erected and squared container in condition to receive -the product to be packaged therein; and

`FIGURE 4 is a perspective view `of the container -in lthe process of being opened.

Referring to FIGURE l of the drawings ,there is shown a `plan view of a container blank Vof one embodiment of the present invention. The blank consists of side Walls 10 and 11, with an .end Wall 12 located therebetween. Another `end Wall 13 (see FIGURES 2 and 3) is .constructed in two parts, one lying at each of 4the oppositelfy disposed ends of the container blank. The end wall portion 13a is marginally interconnected with the sidewall `1l) and end portion 13b extends .outwardly `from iside Wall 11.

The side walls and end walls are deiinedby the pattern of scoring shown. Score lines 14 and 15 deiine, respectively, -the top and bottom limits of each `of the ,panels or Walls comprising the container, providing the fold line intermediate theabove-mentioned side and end walls and the Youtwardly extending side aps and end aps described hereinafter. Score lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 intervene the respective side and .end Walls and constitute the vertical corners of the container when it is erected for packing.

A glue flap or tab `24 is provided Afor the formation of the manufacturers joint. The manufacturers joint is the seam formed by `the container manufacturer and serves to connect the ends of the container blank, forming the container sleeve from a iiat blank. The glue tab 24 extends from the distal edge of the end wall portion 13b and may, as shown, be substantially trapezoidal in sa configuration. The shape, of course, is not critical and consequently any suitable configuration may be used so long as the flap 24 is made as an integral extension from the adjacent end wall portion along substantially the full length thereof.

Side flaps a, 10b, 11a and 11b extend outwardly from the top and bottom of the container blank, each being integrally attached to a correspondingly numbered side wall. End flaps 13am, 13ab, 12a, 12b, 131m and 13bb are marginally interconnected with correspondingly numbered end walls or end wall portions along substantially the full width thereof, extending outwardly therefrom from the top and bottom of the blank. As shown, the juxtaposed end and side flaps are separated by cuts 16', 17, 18 and 19 located at opposite sides of each of score lines 16, 17, 13 and 19 respectively. The end and side flaps are each substantially rectangular and approximately identical in dimension from score line to distal end, and as is usual in the case of containers, this dimension is equal to one half of the width of the end walls 12 and 13. So constructed, the side flaps of the container cover substantially the entirety of the top and bottom closures in use-an aid in eliminating the possibility of dirt entering the sealed container.

The side walls 10 and 11 are substantially identical in dimension as are the end wall portions 12 and 13, so as to form a rectangular receptacle in use. In this connection, the width of the end wall portion 13a intermediate score line 16 and the end 20 of the blank plus the width W (as shown in FIGURE l) of end wall portion 13b intervening score line 19 and the glue flap 24 are such that when placed side-by-side they present an effective width equal to that of the end wall 12 between score lines 17 and 18. It should be noted, however, that the width of end wall portion 13a and end wall portion 13b are not equal. In connection with a container approximately 13" long, 67/8" wide, and 1313/16" deep, it has been found that the width of the larger of the two end wall portions should exceed the width of the other by an amount of at least about 1, thus making the seam fall at least about 1/2" from the center line of end panel 13. The purpose of this construction will be explained more fully hereinafter.

End flaps 12a and 12b are slotted as shown at 22 and 23. The slots 22 and 23 are out of alignment with the center line of the end flaps of the end wall 12, i.e., are located olf-center on the end aps 12a and 12b. While these may be placed off-center in any direction, it is necessary that the eecentricity be governed according to the width and location of the end wall portions 13a and 13b. The width of the sections of the end flaps 12a and 12b between the slots 22 and 23 and the cuts 17 should be approximately the same as the width of end flaps 13am and 13ab of the end wall portion 13a. Similarly, the width of the sections of end flaps 12a and 12b between the slots 22 and 23 and the cuts 18 should be approximately the same as the width of the end flaps 13ba and 13bb of the end wall portion 13b. From the above it will be seen that the section of the slotted end ap located adjacent to the side wall from which extends the end wall portion of greater width will be the section of the slotted end Hap having the greater width. Each of the slots 22 and 23 extends from the outer edge of the ilap in which it is made to a point located outwardly from the score lines 14 and 15, respectively, by an amount equal to about l". This spacing from the score lines prevents the container from tending to form a fold between the ends of the cuts 22 and 23 when the carton is squared for use. The tendency to form an additional fold in the container would be extremely undesirable in utilizing the receptacle.

The end ilaps 13ba and 13bb extending outwardly from the end wall portion 13b are each provided with an area of printing 25 and 26, the ink used being a type which prevents the firm adhesion of glue to the board underlying it. Alternatively, areas 25 and 26 could be coated with a suitable varnish to prevent firm adhesion in the areas 25 and 26. The procedures for so treating selective areas of packaging materials are well known and will therefore not be described in detail herein. While the length of the areas 25 and 26 are substantially equal to the full length of the respective end flaps 13ba and 13bb, the width is regulated by the difference in the widths of the end wall portions 13a and 13b. The printing is done along the inner edges 21' .of the end flaps 13ba and 13h11, which edges also constitute parts of the cut forming the end of the blank. The width of each of the areas 25 and 26 from the edges 21 is equal to the distance by which the inner edge 21' is removed from the center line of end wall 13 after the manufacturers joint is made, thereby resulting in an unprinted width of the end flap on which it is placed which measures onehalf of the width of end wall 12 or 13. From the above it will be seen that the printing must necessarily be placed on the end flaps extending from the end panel portion of greater width. In the illustrated embodiment, the wider end flap portion is 13b and for this reason the printing is located as described hereinafter on end flaps 13b@ and 13bb. If the larger of the two end wall portions had been 13a, then the printing of areas 25 and 26 would have been done alongside the oppositely disposed edges 20 of the end flaps 13aa and 13ab.

After the blank is cut, scored and printed as described above, glue is applied to the area 27 of end wall portion 13a, the width of the glue area being at least about 1/z" less than the width of the glue flap 24. The type of glue which should be used is preferably that which results in the type of bond which may be termed a soft seal. A soft seal is a joint which is strong in shear but low in T tensile strength or peel. Many soft seal adhesives are presently being marketed and it has been found that polyvinyl acetate resins are suitable, e.g., Swift & Co. soft seal resin #2581 or Arabol Adhesive Co. adhesive number E1534B. Alternatively, the adhesion of the glue flap 24 may be accomplished by spot gluing using any suitable container board adhesive. In either case, the disparity between the width of the glue area 27, and that of the glue ilap 24 will result in the distal end of the glue flap on the formed container sleeve being free and easily grasped for an opening operation to be described. 1f desired, other means of obtaining removable securement of the manufacturers joint could be used, one such feasible arrangement being by means of staples. As stated above, however, the use of a soft seal adhesive is preferred.

Then the end wall portion 13a and the attached end aps 13am and 13ab are folded inwardly 180 along the score line 16. Next, the side wall 10, end wall 12, the inwardly folded end wall portion 13a and the associated end and side flaps are folded inwardly along the score line 18. This places the glue ap 24 in a position overlying the adhesive area 27 and the edges 20 and 21 abutting. Pressure upon this portion of the blank causes the proximal areas of the glue ap to adhere to the area 27 of the end wall portion 13a, thus completing the manufacturers joint on the container.

To use the container, the flattened sleeve shown in FIGURE 2 is squared and the bottom closure flaps 13ab, 13bb, 12b, 10b and 11b inwardly folded and glued. In accomplishing this, the juxtaposed end flaps 13bb and 13ab and the oppositely disposed end flap 12b are folded inwardly and an adhesive applied thereto or to the side flaps 10b or 11b, as the case may be. Then the side flaps 10b and 11b are folded into overlapping relationship with the aforementioned end flaps and sufficient pressure applied to adhesively unite them.

Next the packages to be placed in the container are inserted through the open top closure of the container with the uppermost ends thereof in contact with the interior of sidewall 11. Following the packing operation, the top closure flaps 13aa, 13ba, 12a, 10a, and 11a are inwardly folded and adhesively united in the same manner as described above in connection with the `bottom closure. Alternatively, of course, `the iiattened sleeve may be squared, the package inserted and the top and bottom 4closure flaps sealed subsequently.

Becausey .of the comparative widths of the end flaps extending from end wall portions 13a and 13b and the related location of the slots 22 .and 23, `each of the side flaps 4extending from side wall 10 will, upon sealing of the closures, contact all of the individual end tiaps in- .cluded in the respective closures. Thus, side flap 10a will Acover parts Aof end flaps 13cm, 13ba, and 12a. Moreover, the side iap 10a will extend across slot 22 so as to permit .attachment of the overlaying side Vflap `to both sections of end ap 12a. Similarly, side Hap 10b will `extend across slot 23 and be attached to both sections of end fiap 12b. This arrangement is very important singe .it will increase .the torsional strength of the container substantially as compared with .the torsional strength Aof a similar struc- .ture wherein the .end wall portions are` identically sized and `the slots centrally located on the end wall flaps. It will also be noted that because of the `relationships described above, the printed `areas 25 and 26 will always underlie the part of `the side aps extending across the abutting ends of the end aps 131m and 13ml of the top closureV and 13bb and 13ab of the bottom closure, and will be contiguous yto the glue tab y24. `Such an arrangement facilitates .easy separation `of the container in the .manner .to be described.

When the container has been shipped to the retail outlet, opening may be accomplished in the following manner. The container is Vplaced flat with the sidewall 10 in Ethe lowermost position. This orientates the container so .that .the glue flap 24 is adapted to be lifted in order to break the manufacturers joint. The `outwardly extending unglued distal end portion ofthe glue iiap 24 is grasped and pulled firmly in an upward direction to thereby sever the soft seal bond along the area 27. Due to the fact that the areas 25 and 26 of end flaps 13ba and 13bb are printed, the top and bottom closure seals along those areas are readily broken, permitting the hinge opening action shown in FIGURE 4 to commence. As the pulling of the flap 24 continues, the overlapped parts ofthe wider sections of end flaps 12a and 12b (one of which is shown as 12a in FIGURE 4) are torn loose of their adhesive attachment with the side aps 10a and 10b and the flaps 12a and 12b are ripped along a line interconnecting the inner end of the slots 22 and 23 with the scores 14 and 15,

` respectively. Thus, in the opened condition shown in FGURE 4, the only connection existing between the upwardly raised half of the container and the tray comprising the bottom half thereof, is a hinge line formed across end wall 12 in line with the slots 22 and 23. If it is desired to employ the tray in the display of products in the retail establishment, the hinge line mentioned above may be cut so as to separate the tray from the upper portion of the container. Price marking of the individual cartons may be accomplished while the product is maintained in its packed condition within the confines of the tray portion, whether the device is ultimately to serve as a tray or not.

Many modifications of the above invention may be used `and it is not intended to limit it to the particular embodiment shown and described. The terms used in describing the invention are used in their descriptive sense and not as terms of limitation, it being intended that all equivalents thereof be included in the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An easy opening tray-forming container having in combination:

(A) two pairs of marginally connected and alternating end walls and side walls, and bottom and top closures;

(YB') eachof said closures comprising substantially rectangular and full width end iapshinged to and extending vfrom the said ,end walls, respectively, inwardly folded toward Aone another so as to lie in the same plane, and equally sized rectangular side flaps hinged to and extending from the side walls, respectively, inwardly folded in overlapping relationship with said end flaps and adhesivelyunited therewith, each of said aps having a dimension from hinge -line to vdistal end which approximates one-half of the width of the said end walls, said side aps 5in the inwardly folded condition being coplanar and the distal ends thereof contiguous;

(C) the ends of the ,blank `forming said ,container lying within the contines of one of said end walls and thereby dividing said one end wall into two portions, each Vof which has a pair ,o foppositelydisposed end flaps connected therewith, the `combined widths of said `end wall portions being approximately equal to that of the other said end wall, the end wall poration at one end of the blank having a full length ap extending therefrom which overlies and is removably secured to the other end of the blank, the balance `of the end edges of said blank being 4butted against one another;

(D) the line of the abutting edges of said lends of the blank being located in a position .removed from the center line of the said one end wall so that one end wall portion Ais wider thanthe other;

(E) the end flaps extending from the other of said end `walls being slotted along lines perpendicular to the flap hinge lines, each Aof said slots extending from the outer flap edge to a point short of the respective flap hinge line, said slots both lying in substantially Lthe same plane as the abutting end edges of said blank located in the oppositely disposed Aend flaps when the container is in use.

2. The container of claim 1 in which the removable ecurement of the flap is made by means of a soft seal adhesive.

3. The container of claim 1 in which the end flaps attached to the wider of the said end wall portions are provided with areas treated to resist rm adhesion thereto, said areas extending substantially full length along the edges thereof which abut the end flaps attached to the narrower of said end wall portions and having a width at least as great as the amount by which the abutting edges of said ends of the blank are removed from the center line of said one end wall.

4. The container of claim 3 in which the abutting edges of said ends of the blanks are removed from the center line of said one end wall by at least about one-half inch.

5. An easy opening tray-forming container having in combination:

(A) two pairs of marginally connected and alternating end walls and side walls, and bottom and top closures;

(B) each of said closures comprising substantially rectangular and full width end aps hinged to and extending frorn the said end walls, respectively, inwardly folded toward one another so as to lie in the same plane, and equally sized rectangular side flaps hinged to and extending from the said side walls respectively, inwardly folded in overlapping relationship with said end flaps and adhesively united therewith, each of said side ilaps having a dimension from hinge line to distal end which approximates one-half of the width of the said end walls, said side flaps in the inwardly folded condition being coplanar and the distal ends thereof contiguous;

(C) the ends of the blank forming said container lying within the confines of one of said end walls and thereby dividing said one end wall into two portions each having a pair of oppositely disposed end flaps connected therewith, the combined Widths of 7 said end wall portions being approximately equal to that of the other said end wall, the end wall portion at one end of the blank having a full length glue Hap extending therefrom which overlies and is rehinged to and extending from the side walls, respectively, inwardly folded in overlapping relationship with said end aps and adhesively united therewith, each of said side tlaps having a dimension from movably secured to the other end of the blank, the hinge line to distal end which approximates one-half balance of the end edges of said blank being butted of the width of the said end walls, said side flaps in against' one another; the inwardly folded condition being coplanar and the (D) the line of the abutting edges of said ends of the distal ends thereof contiguous;

blank being located in a position removed from the (C) the ends of the blanks forming said container lycenter line of the said one end wall by at least about 10 ing within the contines of one of said end walls and 1/2 so that one end wall portion is at least about thereby dividing said one end wall into two portions, 1 wider than the other, each of which has a pair of opposit'ely disposed end (E) the end aps extending from the other of said end aps connected therewith, the combined widths of walls being slotted along lines perpendicular to the said end wall portions being approximately equal to ap hinge lines, each of said slots extending from that of the other said end wall; the .outer nap edge t0 a point short of the respective (D) means securing the two said end wall portions in flap hinge line, said slots both lying in substantially juxtaposed position with the distal ends thereof adthe same plane as the abutting end edges of said jacent one another to thereby form said one end wall; blank located in the oppositely disposed end ilaps (E) the adjacent edges of said end wall portions being when the container is in use. located in a position removed from the center line 6. The container of claim 5 in which the end flaps atof the said one end wall so that one end Wall portion tached to the wider of the said end Wall portions are prois Wider than the other; vided with areas treated to resist rm adhesion thereto, (F) the end Flaps extending from the other of said end said areas extending substantially full length along the Walls each being SlOited along a line perpendicular inner edges of said end flaps and having a width at least l0 the flap hinge lines, @3G11 0f Said SlOS extending as great as the amount by which the abutting edges of from the Outer flap edge t0 a POU Short 0f ille resaid ends of the blank are removed from the center line SPeCiiVe flap hinge line, Sad SlOS eaCll lying in Subof said one wall. stantially the same plane as the adjacent edges of 7. An easy opening tray-forming container having in Said end Wall portions when the container is in use. combination:

(A) two pairs of marginally connected and alternating end walls and side walls, and bottom and top References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS closures;

(B) each of 4said closures comprising substantially e a' rectangular and full width end flaps hinged to and 35 3018942 1/62 Amgso a 229-51 extending from the said end Walls, respectively, inwardly folded toward one another so as to lie in the FRAN I Same plane, and equally sized rectangular side aps KL N T GARRETT Prlmary Exammer' 

1. AN EASY OPENING TRAY-FORMING CONTAINER HAVING IN COMBINATION: (A) TWO PAIRS OF MARGINALLY CONNECTED AND ALTERNATING END WALLS AND SIDE WALLS, AND BOTTOM AND TOP CLOSURES; (B) EACH OF SAID CLOSURES COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR AND FULL WIDTH END FLAPS HINGED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE SAID END WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, INWARDLY FOLDED TOWARD ONE ANOTHER SO AS TO LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, AND EQUALLY SIZED RECTANGULAR SIDE FLAPS HINGED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE SIDE WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, INWARDLY FOLDED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID END FLAPS AND ADHESIVELY UNITED THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID FLAPS HAVING A DIMENSION FROM HINGE LINE TO DISTAL END WHICH APPROXIMATES ONE-HALF OF THE WIDTH OF THE SAID END WALLS, SAID SIDE FLAPS IN THE INWARDLY FOLDED CONDITION BEING COPLANAR AND THE DISTAL ENDS THEREOF CONTIGUOUS; (C) THE ENDS OF THE BLANK FORMING SAID CONTAINER LYING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF ONE OF SAID END WALLS AND THEREBY DIVIDING SAID ONE END WALL INTO TWO PORTIONS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END FLAPS CONNECTED THEREWITH, THE COMBINED WIDTHS OF SAID END WALL PORTIONS BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THAT OF THE OTHER SAID END WALL, THE END WALL PORTION AT ONE END OF THE BLANK HAVING A FULL LENGTH FLAP EXTENDING THEREFROM WHICH OVERLIES AND IS REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF THE BLANK, THE BALANCE OF THE END EDGES OF SAID BLANK BEING BUTTED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER; (D) THE LINE OF THE ABUTTING EDGES OF SAID ENDS OF THE BLANK BEING LOCATED IN A POSITION REMOVED FROM THE CENTER LINE OF THE SAID ONE END WALL SO THAT ONE END WALL PORTION IS WIDER THAN THE OTHER; (E) THE END FLAPS EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER OF SAID END WALLS BEING SLOTTED ALONG LINES PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLAP HINGE LINES, EACH OF SAID SLOTS EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER FLAP EDGE TO A POINT SHORT OF THE RESPECTIVE FLAP HINGE LINE, SAID SLOTS BOTH LYING IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS THE ABUTTING END EDGES OF SAID BLANK LOCATED IN THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END FLAPS WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN USE. 